aving moved from the tranquil and picturesque state of Vermont back in 1999, my wife Pauline and I settled in Silverhill, a small rural community in Baldwin County, Alabama. Our white 1966 Alfa Romeo "Duetto" followed us, trailered behind a most uncomfortable U-Haul truck for the three-day journey. After adjusting to the high humidity and scorching temperatures, it was time to have the Weber carburetors re-jetted to account for the southern atmosphere. Fortunately, we located a very knowledgeable Alfa mechanic in Pensacola, Florida who specialized in Weber carburetors, and he got the Duetto running just right.

As members of the Alfa Romeo Owners Club for 25 years (including 17 years with AONE and 3 years with AROC Vermont), we transferred our membership from Vermont to the Alabama AROC chapter. I was unsuccessful in my attempts to contact the chapter president and was disappointed in not receiving a monthly newsletter. Three years passed before I received word that the Alabama AROC chapter was officially disbanding and members would automatically become affiliated with the Georgia AROC. This was a bit disconcerting, as meetings would mean having to drive over seven hours each way!

Two years ago, Pauline and I were thrilled to find an outstanding foreign car mechanic who had a shop in Fairhope, Alabama. He was experienced with Alfas and provided quality service for our Alfa until he retired this year. Curious to learn who had purchased his business, I drove my Duetto over to Fairhope one sunny afternoon. Parked in the yard were four trucks and an assortment of Detroit appliances! The owner, Frank, and his youthful understudy, Bubba, approached me with inquiring looks and asked, "What kind of car’s that?" I responded that it was an Alfa Romeo.

Frank wanted to know who made it. Standing at the rear of the Duetto, Bubba exclaimed, "Open her up! Let’s see what she’s got for a motor." Realizing that he thought the engine was in the rear, I politely excused myself and left Frank and Bubba to work on their four wheel drive trucks and American muscle cars.

Reality has finally settled in, and I now know that if we wish to be accepted as worthy citizens of Alabama and blend in with the "good ol’ boys", we’ll just have to make some alterations to our lovely Duetto. First, we’ll chop off the boat tail and add a truck bed and cab. A rifle rack is a must, as anything that moves is fair game in Alabama. Next we’ll attach a University of Alabama football team tag on the front bumper, as football is the second religion in this state. Here in the South, the Civil War is known as "The War of Northern Aggression", and the South shall rise again. Therefore, it is only fitting that we place a Confederate Flag in the rear window. Because we now live in the Bible belt, it will be prudent to display a Jesus fish on the side of the Alfa to save us from eternal damnation. And of course we’ll jack up the Duetto and place it on a 4x4 truck chassis.

Sorry to miss the National Alfa Convention in New Hampshire, but keep an eye out for us at future events where you just might see our Alfa "Rebel" Romeo entered in the concours class for modified vehicles.